1 REVIEW OF RELEVANT HALACHOS FOR EREV TISHA BE AV & TISHA BE AV Compiled by Rabbi Sariel Malitzky Reviewed by Rabbi Yaakov Luban Congregation Ohr Torah 5778 Sponsored by: Shelley Schoenfeld and Matt Holland In loving memory of David J. Schoenfeld Z l לעילי נשמת יואל דוד בן יהודה הלוי ז"ל
2 This year Tisha Be Av falls out on Shabbos. With the exception of Yom Kippur, we do not fast on Shabbos. Therefore, the fast and observance of the laws of mourning are postponed until Sunday. Nevertheless, Shabbos Tisha Be Av is a day in conflict: on the one hand, it is the saddest day of the year, but on the other hand, we do not publicly mourn on Shabbos as Shabbos is an exalted and joyous day. Because of this and the fact the fast is postponed, there are numerous Halachos that pertain to Shabbos, Sunday, and Monday this year. 1) Shabbos a. Having Company for Meals i. Due to the seriousness and solemnity of Tisha Be Av, one should preferably not invite company for the Shabbos meals. 1. Exceptions a. If there is a specific need, one can invite guests for the Shabbos meals. b. If one eats with the same people every Shabbos, they may eat together on this Shabbos as well. b. Zemiros at the Shabbos Table i. One is allowed to sing all of the regular Shabbos Zemiros during each of the Shabbos meals. c. Learning Torah i. Normally, one is not permitted to learn Torah after midday on Erev Tisha Be Av. This year, because it is Shabbos, one can engage in Torah study. d. Leisurly Walks i. One should not take a leisurely stroll after midday (1:04pm) on Shabbos. e. Seudah HaMafsekes i. What to eat? 1. The regular restrictions placed on what one can eat during the Seudah HaMafsekes are not in place this year. 2. The traditional egg sprinkled with ashes is not eaten on Shabbos. ii. How to Sit? 1. One should not sit on the floor while eating on Shabbos. iii. With Whom Can You Eat? 1. One need not eat this meal alone. i. If three or more people eat together, they should make a Zimmun. iv. When Tisha Be Av Prohibitions Begin? 1. The Tisha Be Av prohibitions begin at sunset (8:23pm). f. When to Change i. Shabbos ends at 9:13pm. As soon as possible after that, one should say Boruch HaMavdil Bein Kodesh LeChol, remove leather shoes and Shabbos clothing, and put on Tisha Be Av shoes and weekday clothing. 1. The clothing that one changes into should not be freshly laundered. g. Bringing Tisha Be Av Shoes, Kinnos Books, or Chairs to Shul on Shabbos i. One is not allowed to prepare on Shabbos for after Shabbos. Therefore, one is not allowed to carry Tisha Be Av items to shul on Shabbos since he won t be using them until after Shabbos. The shul will begin Maariv later to allow ample time to take care of Tisha Be Av needs. h. Havdallah i. The standard Havdallah is not recited on Motzei Shabbos. When Shabbos ends, the statement Boruch HaMavdil Bein Kodesh LeChol must be recited before doing any Melacha. ii. In the presence of one s family, one should light the Havdallah candle and only recite the Bracha of Borei Me orei HaEish.
3 2) The Five Afflictions a. Eating b. Washing c. Anointing i. Children 1. Children do not need to fast until they reach Bar or Bat Mitzvah. ii. One who needs to eat 1. One who is sick or must take medication should consult with Rabbi Luban. 2. Women who are either pregnant or nursing should fast until 10:00am (if they are feeling well). After 10:00am they can eat a. Meat and wine should not be consumed. 3. One who is ill and must eat should first recite Havdallah a. Havdallah should be recited over a cup of grape juice. If a child between the ages of six and not yet thirteen is present, he or she should drink it. If not, the one saying Havdallah can drink the grape juice. 4. One who is eating bread should wash their hands for Netilas Yadayim. One should use the washing cup and wash their entire hand like they normally would. 5. One who bentches should recite the addition of Nacheim in bentching. 1. One is not allowed to wash any part of one s body including one s hands. It is forbidden to wash with either hot or cold water on Tisha Be Av. Even putting one's finger in water is prohibited. 1. Negel Vasser is done on Tisha Be Av morning. One should use the regular washing cup and only wash up to the second knuckles (where the fingers are connected to the hand). 2. One is permitted to wash away dirt, but only the unclean area may be cleansed. 3. One is permitted to wash one s hands (up to the second knuckles) after going to the bathroom 1. It is forbidden to apply on any lotions. 2. It is preferable not to apply cosmetics on Tisha Be Av 1. One can use spray deodorant.
4 d. Wearing leather shoes 1. It is prohibited to wear leather shoes, even those made partially from leather. 2. Wearing of leather shoes is prohibited outside of the home as well as at home. 3. A child should also not wear leather shoes. 1. One who is ill, a woman who is within the 30-day period after childbirth, one who is extremely sensitive to cold, or one with a wound on their foot may wear leather shoes if they can t find comfortable non-leather shoes. e. Marital relations 1. Marital relations are prohibited on Tisha Be Av. f. Other laws and customs i. Work around the house 1. It is preferable to wait until midday (1:04pm) to clean the house, wash the dishes, etc. ii. Learning Torah 1. The study of Torah brings us happiness, which is antithetical to the mourning of Tisha Be Av. For this reason, the study of Torah is forbidden. a. One can learn aspects of Torah which have a sad nature to them. This includes the laws of mourning and the parts of Tanach and Gemara which describe the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash b. One can learn self-help books, books about the Holocaust, and inspiring stories. iii. Greeting friends 1. Greeting others is prohibited on Tisha Be Av. Even merely saying good morning is not allowed. 2. One who is greeted on Tisha Be Av should respond softly in order to show that greeting is prohibited iv. Sitting on the floor or lower surface 1. One should not sit on a regular chair until Midday (1:04pm) on Tisha Be Av a. A nursing mother can nurse her child while sitting in a regular chair b. A woman who recently gave birth or one who is pregnant and finds it difficult to sit on the floor or on a chair which is closer to the ground can sit on a regular chair v. Discomfort While Sleeping 1. Some use one pillow instead of two and others who normally only use one won t use a pillow at all on Tisha Be Av in order to be sensitive to the somber nature of the day. 3) Sunday Night (MotzEi Tisha Be Av) a. The fast ends at 9:12pm b. Havdallah i. One must recite Havdallah over a cup of wine (or whichever beverage one normally uses for Havdallah). However, no Besamim and no fire is used. ii. The paragraph of Hinei Kel Yeshu asi is not recited. Havdallah begins with the Beracha of Borei Pri HaGafen.
5 1. The one who recites Havdallah can drink wine or grape juice and need not drink other beverages (such as orange juice or beer) 2. The one who recites Havdallah can drink the wine himself and need not give it to a child to drink. iii. On a regular Motzei Shabbos, one is prohibited to eat before Havdallah. Therefore, women are not allowed to eat before they hear Havdallah when their husbands return from Shul after Maariv. 1. One is allowed to drink water before Havdallah. Therefore, women can drink water before Havdallah. 2. If fasting is very difficult for a woman and she is not feeling well, a woman can eat a little bit of food before her husband or father returns home from shul to recite Havdallah. c. End of Restrictions i. On a regular year, the restrictions of the nine days extend until midday on the day after Tisha Be Av. This year, since Tisha Be Av is really on Shabbos, things are different 1. Meat and wine a. One is not allowed to eat meat or drink wine until Monday morning. One need not wait until midday. 2. Music a. One should not listen to music until Monday morning. 3. Everything else a. One is allowed to take a haircut, shave, bathe, swim, and do laundry as soon as the fast is over. May we merit witnessing the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash